Wearable cooler using thermoelectric module

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a wearable cooler including a thermoelectric module provided on clothes for absorbing and discharging heat according to an electric current, at least one first heat sink provided at a first side of the thermoelectric module, at least one second heat sink provided at an opposite side of the first heat sink on the basis of the thermoelectric module, at least one first fan provided at an opposite side of the thermoelectric module on the basis of the first heat sink for blowing air to the first heat sink, and an external case surrounding outsides of the first heat sink and the first fan, and having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No.P2003-44602, filed on Jul. 02, 2003, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wearable cooler, and moreparticularly, to a wearable cooler using a thermoelectric module.

Discussion of the Related Art

In general, clothes have a protective function for protecting a bodyfrom outside environment. However, it is required that modern clotheshave not only a protective function but also a fashion function forsatisfying aesthetic desire of a human being and a practical functionfor more convenient life of a human being.

As an example of the clothes having a practical function, there areclothes providing a pleasant feeling for a wearer at a high temperaturein summer and a warm feeling at a low temperature in winter. The clotheswith the function are described in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of packs with a phase change materialis adhered to an inside of the clothes. The pack provides a cool feelingor a warm feeling in direct or indirect contact with the body.

However, there is a problem that the phase change material is not usedfor a long time and a performance is lowered as time goes by. There isanother problem that the wearer feels discomfort because of humidityincreased in a part of the pack being in contact with the body, and onlythe part of the body being in contact with the pack is cooled or warmed.Also, the phase change material is heavy and the wearer feels burden.

Therefore, it is required to develop the clothes, which maintainscooling and warming functions for a long time and a performance thereofis not fallen as times goes by.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a wearable cooler thatsubstantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations anddisadvantages of the related

An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable cooler,which maintains cooling and warming functions for a long time andperformance of the wearable cooler is not fallen as times goes by.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wearable cooler,which provides pleasant feeling for a wearer all the time.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, awearable cooler includes a thermoelectric module provided on clothes forabsorbing and discharging heat according to an electric current, atleast one first heat sink provided at a first side of the thermoelectricmodule, at least one second heat sink provided at an opposite side ofthe first heat sink on the basis of the thermoelectric module, at leastone first fan provided at an opposite side of the thermoelectric moduleon the basis of the first heat sink for blowing air to the first heatsink, and an external case surrounding outsides of the first heat sinkand the first fan, and having at least one air inlet and at least oneair outlet.

In another aspect of the present invention, a wearable cooler includes athermoelectric module provided on clothes for absorbing and dischargingheat according to an electric current; at least one first heat sinkprovided at a first side of the thermoelectric module and at an outsideof the wearable cooler; at least one second heat sink provided at anopposite side of the first heat sink on the basis of the thermoelectricmodule; at least one first fan provided at an opposite side of thethermoelectric module on the basis of the first heat sink for blowingair to the first heat sink and including an axial flow fan; and at leastone second fan being provided at an opposite side of the thermoelectricmodule for blowing air to the second heat sink on the basis of thesecond heat sink and including a centrifugal fan; and an external casesurrounding outsides of the first heat sink and the first fan and havingat least one air inlet being corresponded to the first fan and at leastone air outlet being adjustable to change the direction according to auser need.

The wearable cooler further includes a contact guard having an openingbeing corresponded to the second fan at a skin side opposite to thethermoelectric module. The contact guard includes a projection on asurface being in contact with the second heat sink for maintaining apredetermined distance from the contact guard 600.

The wearable cooler is in contact with a first side of the second heatsink and a part of the wearable cooler being in contact with the secondheat sink includes gauze.

The wearable cooler composed as aforementioned maintains cooling andwarming functions and performance for a long time and provides apleasant feeling for a wearer all the time.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing conventional clothes with a phase changematerial.

FIG. 2 is a rough diagram showing a cooling and warming portion ofwearable cooler according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rough diagram showing an air movement at a first heat sinkprovided in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an air movement at a second heat sinkprovided in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment at a state that the presentinvention is applied to a human body.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment at a state that the presentinvention is applied to a human body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, samples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A function of clothes will be described to help understand the presentinvention. In general, although clothes function to protect a body fromoutside environment, there are clothes not only with a protectivefunction but also with a fashion function satisfying aesthetic desire ofhuman being and a practical function in modern times.

As an embodiment of the clothes with the practical function, there is awearable cooler providing a cool feeling for a wearer at hightemperature in summer, and a warm feeling at low temperature in winter.

The present invention is the wearable cooler with cooling and warmingfunctions. Hereinafter, the embodiment of the clothes with the practicalfunction according to the present invention will be described referringto FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing cooling and warming portion including athermoelectric module 200, at least one first heat sink 300, at leastone second heat sink 400, at least one fan 310 for blowing air to thefirst heat sink.

The thermoelectric module 200 is a unit for absorbing heat anddischarging heat according to an electric current. Described in moredetail, heat is discharged from a first side of the thermoelectricmodule 200 and absorbed from a second side of the thermoelectric modulewhen the electric current flows to the thermoelectric module 200.

When the passage of the electric current is changed, heat is dischargedfrom the second side of the thermoelectric module 200 and absorbed onthe first side of the thermoelectric module 200.

It is desirable that the first heat sink 300 is provided on a first sideof the thermoelectric module 200 and in contact with an insulatorprovided in the thermoelectric module, and, in this case, the first heatsink 300 is provided at outside of the clothes.

The first fan 310 provided at an opposite side of the thermoelectricmodule 200 on the basis of the first heat sink 300 blows air to thefirst heat sink. In this case, it is desirable that the first fan 310includes an axial flow fan or a centrifugal fan, and a motor as a singlebody for minimizing a product size.

The first fan 310 functions to smoothly exchange heat between thethermoelectric module 200 and the first heat sink 300. Although it isnot illustrated, if the first fan 310 includes the centrifugal fan, itis desirable that a space with a predetermined size is provided in thecenter of the centrifugal fan and the centrifugal fan are providedtherein for heat exchange such that the first heat sink includes thecentrifugal fan.

The second heat sink 400 is provided at an outer side of thethermoelectric module 200, in more detail, at the opposite side of thefirst heat sink on the basis of the thermoelectric module 200.Therefore, the second heat sink 400 is provided at a skin side oppositeto the first heat sink 300 so as to exchange heat with thethermoelectric module 200.

In addition to such composition, it is desirable that the wearablecooler further includes an external case 500 surrounding the first heatsink 300 and the first fan 310. The external case 500 includes at leastone air inlet 510 and at least one air outlet 520. It is desirable thatthe air inlet 510 is corresponded to the first fan 310.

The air outlet 520 is a passage for discharging air to outside after airis sucked from outside by the first fan 310 and heat is exchanged withthe first heat sink 300. The air outlet 520 is provided in alldirections of the external case 500. FIG. 3, 5 and 6 are diagramsshowing such composition.

However, the composition is only an embodiment of the present invention.The air outlet 520 can be provided in a direction of the external case500 or in three directions thereof. Desirably, any composition can beselected as long as air is discharged the best thereof. In addition tothis, it is better that the direction of the air outlet 520 iscontrollable in accordance with the need of a user.

It is desirable that the present invention with such composition furtherincludes a second fan 410 provided at the opposite side, i.e., at theskin side of the thermoelectric module 200 on the basis of the secondheat sink for blowing air to the second heat sink 400.

At this time, it is desirable that a side of the clothes is providedbetween the second fan 410 and the skin. More desirably, fabric in theplace of the fan includes gauze.

It is obvious that the side of the clothes is not necessarily providedbetween the fan and the skin. In other words, any composition allowingthat the second fan 410 absorbs air from the skin side can be selected.

The second fan 410 absorbs air from the skin side and discharges to thesecond heat sink 400. In more detail, when the second fan 410 absorbsair containing heat generated from the skin and discharges to the secondheat sink, the thermoelectric module 200 exchanges heat with air throughthe medium of the second heat sink 400 and discharges air to the skinside or to outside.

The second fan 410 includes an axial flow fan or a centrifugal fan foran aforementioned action. It is desirable that the second fan 410 andthe motor are formed as a single body for minimizing the product size.

When the second fan 410 includes the centrifugal fan, it is desirablethat the second heat sink includes a space with a predetermined size inthe center thereof so as to have the centrifugal fan for heat exchange.It is the same in case the second fan 410 includes the axial flow fan.

The aforementioned composition helps reduce the height of all, and thusminimize the produce size. In addition to the aforementionedcomposition, it is desirable that the wearable cooler further includes acontact guard 600 surrounding the first heat sink 300 and the first fan310.

It is desirable that the second heat sink 400 includes a projection 420on a surface in contact with the contact guard 600 to maintain apredetermined distance from the contact guard 600. The projection 420can be provided on a side of the contact guard 600. Air flows moresmoothly when the predetermined space is provided between the contactguard 600 and the second heat sink 400.

The present invention includes the thermoelectric module 200, the firstfan 310, the second fan 410 and a power supplier 700. The power supplierincludes a chargeable battery or a disposable battery.

Also, it is desirable that the present invention further includes anelectric-current controller 800 for cooling or warming by changing anelectric current being supplied to the thermoelectric module 200according to an outside temperature. In this case, the currentcontroller controls the electric current being supplied to thethermoelectric module 200 for temperature control.

Of course, the wearable cooler of the present invention further includesa temperature censor (not illustrated) for censoring a temperature ofoutside air. The electric-current controller 800 controls the electriccurrent for maintaining a proper temperature according to the outsidetemperature being censored by the temperature censor.

A process of use of the wearable cooler being composed as aforementionedaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed as follows. First, when the power is supplied from the powersupplier, an electric current is sent into the thermoelectric module200, the first fan 310 and the second fan 410.

Accordingly, heat is generated from a side of the thermoelectric module200 being in contact with the first heat sink and is absorbed from aside of the thermoelectric module 200 being in contact with the secondheat sink 400.

Air is sucked from the air inlet 510 by the first fan for absorbing heatgenerated from the thermoelectric module 200 through the medium of thefirst heat sink 300 and is discharged to outside through the air outlet520.

Meanwhile, air being sucked from the skin side by the second fan 410 iscooled after discharging heat to the thermoelectric module 200 throughthe medium of the second heat sink 400 and is discharged directly orindirectly to the skin side along the side of the clothes.

In an opposite way of the process, at a low temperature in winter, theelectric current is sent in an opposite direction to that in summer. Thethermoelectric module 200 absorbs heat from a side being in contact withthe first heat sink 300 and discharges heat from a side being in contactwith the second heat sink 400.

An effect of the present invention being composed as aforementioned issummarized as follows. First, there is no need to exchange the phasechange material after using for a predetermined time as the wearablecooler using the phase change material according to the presentinvention.

Second, the function is maintained for a long time and user satisfactionis high according to the present invention.

Third, temperature is adjusted to set for the user according to theoutside temperature according to the present invention.

Four, heat generated from the skin is smoothly discharged to outside andmore pleasant feeling on the skin is created according to the presentinvention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A wearable cooler, comprising: a thermoelectric module provided onclothes for absorbing and discharging heat according to an electriccurrent; at least one first heat sink provided at a first side of thethermoelectric module; at least one second heat sink provided at anopposite side of the first heat sink; and at least one fan provided atan opposite side of the thermoelectric module for blowing air to thefirst heat sink.
 2. The wearable cooler of claim 1, wherein the firstheat sink is provided at an outside of the clothes.
 3. The wearablecooler of claim 1, wherein the first fan comprises an axial flow fan. 4.A wearable cooler, comprising: a thermoelectric module provided onclothes for absorbing and discharging heat according to an electriccurrent; at least one first heat sink provided at a side of thethermoelectric module; a second heat sink provided at an opposite sideof the first heat sink on the basis of the thermoelectric module; atleast one first fan provided at an opposite side of the thermoelectricmodule for blowing air to the first heat sink on the basis of the firstheat sink; and an external case surrounding the first heat sink and thefirst fan, and having at least one air inlet and at least one airoutlet.
 5. The wearable cooler of claim 4, wherein the first heat sinkis provided at an outside of the clothes.
 6. The wearable cooler ofclaim 4, wherein the air inlet is corresponded to the first fan.
 7. Thewearable cooler of claim 4, wherein the air outlet is provided in alldirections at the external case.
 8. The wearable cooler of claim 4,wherein the first fan comprises an axial flow fan.
 9. A wearable cooler,comprising: a thermoelectric module provided on clothes for absorbingand discharging heat according to an electric current; a first heat sinkprovided at a first side of the thermoelectric module; a second heatsink provided at an opposite side of the first heat sink on the basis ofthe thermoelectric module; at least one first fan provided at anopposite side of the thermoelectric module on the basis of the firstheat sink for blowing air to the first heat sink; at least one secondfan provided at an opposite side of the thermoelectric module forblowing air to the second heat sink on the basis of the second heatsink; and an external case having at least one air inlet and at leastone air outlet, and surrounding the first heat sink and the first fan.10. The wearable cooler of claim 9, wherein the first heat sink isprovided at an outside of the clothes.
 11. The wearable cooler of claim9, wherein the air inlet is corresponded to the first fan.
 12. Thewearable cooler of claim 9, wherein the air outlet is adjustable tochange the direction according to a user need.
 13. The wearable coolerof claim 9, wherein each of the first fan and the second fan comprisesan axial flow fan.
 14. The wearable cooler of claim 10, wherein thesecond heat sink comprises a space at a skin side opposite to a side ofthe thermoelectric module, for containing the second fan.
 15. Thewearable cooler of claim 14, wherein the second fan comprises acentrifugal fan.
 16. The wearable cooler of claim 9, wherein the secondheat sink comprises a contact guard having an opening being correspondedto the second fan at an opposite side of the thermoelectric module. 17.The wearable cooler of claim 16, wherein the second heat sink furthercomprises a projection part on a surface being in contact with thecontact guard for maintaining a predetermined distance from the contactguard.
 18. The wearable cooler of claim 9, wherein the clothes isprovided at a skin side on a basis of the second heat sink and thesecond fan, and at least a portion thereof through which air passes bythe second fan comprises gauze.
 19. The wearable cooler of claim 9,wherein the second heat sink and the external case are provided on arear side of the clothes.
 20. The wearable cooler of claim 9, furthercomprises an electric current controller for supplying power to thethermoelectric module and controlling the electric current.